Gray and Puma are nearby, soft conversation and chuckles following behind me that I can’t quite understand because the hunger is overtaking every part of my brain. However, they haven’t stopped touching me since last night. It’s subtle, but it’s there. The brush of fingers against my back when I pass, a palm grazing my hip as I reach for something, the slow, steady pressure of a hand on my shoulder.
And I really fucking like it. Especially with how bare their skin is.
Puma is near the counter, shirtless, his tattoos catching in the kitchen lights, dark ink against golden skin, muscles shifting under the glow. His hair is still damp from the shower, beads of water trailing over his collarbone, disappearing down his chest.
Gray is leaning against the table, nothing but a loose pair of sweats hanging low on his hips, stretching in a way that is absolutely, one hundred percent intentional. I swallow hard, pretending I don’t notice, pretending I don’t want to crawl back between them, sink into their warmth, let them touch me in ways that don’t feel like a casual habit. But hunger wins. Eggs. Avocados. Something easy, something mindless.
The fridge closes with a soft thud, and before I can even start doing anything, Gray moves in behind me, the heat of his chest pressing against my back. His chin settles on my shoulder, his voice filled with amusement. "You cooking for us, princess?"
I roll my eyes, an automatic defense against the warmth curling low in my stomach. "I’m cooking for me. But if you’re nice, I might share." I start opening random drawers until I find cooking utensils and a pan.
Puma chuckles from across the room, his words laced with heat that I absolutely cannot entertain right now. "Be careful, Violet. That sounds an awful lot like an invitation to stay."
“Later. Right now, food.”
The spatula in my hand stills, my body going rigid with an innuendo I’m not even sure I understand but Gray catches on and suddenly his hands are everywhere. Fingers skating over the curve of my ass, gripping, kneading, teasing in a way that’s almost lazy, like he’s got all the time in the world to drive me insane. His lips linger against my neck, dragging over sensitive skin with the kind of filthy intent that makes my stomach twist. The heat of his breath ghosts over my pulse, his voice a low growl, rough and full of promise.
"Princess, you can’t be walking around injustone of our shirts and think it’s going to be that easy. Besides, I’ve told you before that I can multitask."
I slap at him with the spatula until he leans back just enough for me to catch my breath, my entire body now flushed. "Be serious."
"I am serious."
The grip on my hip tightens, fingers digging in just enough to make my breath hitch, to make my legs go just a little weaker beneath me. There’s nothing playful about the way he holds me, about the way his fingers flex like he’s testing his claim, like he’s seeing how much I’ll let him take. But before he can push his luck any further, movement at the entrance of the kitchen catches my attention.
I don’t expect Hawk to be standing there, looking entirely too pleased with himself, and Sofie—Sofie is slung over his shoulder like a damn sack of flour. She dangles there, her tiny fists pounding weakly at his back, but the effort is half-hearted at best. Giggling like an idiot, she writhes, her legs kicking just enough to be obnoxious, not enough to actually make him let go.
I cross my arms, barely restraining an eye roll. "What the fuck are you doing?"
Hawk shrugs, still grinning like an asshole. “She needed her Beta but said her legs weren’t working. So I brought her to you. Neat, huh?”
Sofie flops backward the second he sets her down on the counter, limbs loose, dramatic, fingers wiggling in my direction like she’s some spoiled little princess demanding tribute. God, I love her. I drag her into my arms, giving up as Puma steals the spatula. As long as he cooks something fast, I really don’t care at this point.
Puma moves through the kitchen easily. There’s something stupidly attractive about a man who knows how to cook, especially one who does it without making a big deal out of it. No need for praise, no expectation of gratitude. I perch Sofie on the counter, her feet swinging, Gray resuming his position at my back, his breath against the shell of my ear. Hawk leans against the fridge, his attention fully on Sofie. It’s a quiet comfort—a domestic feeling that I’m falling in love with.
Then Lance stumbles in, barefoot, shirt hanging loose off his broad shoulders. He looks half-asleep, like he barely dragged himself out of bed, but he’s locked in on Sofie. She squeals as he roughly grabs her by the hips before tilting her chin up to kiss her. It’s not soft or sweet, a deep, hungry claiming like he’s been starving for her and I fucking love watching it. Sofie makes a small, pleased noise, her fingers gripping his tight curls, melting into him without hesitation.
And just as I start to feel like this isn’t something I should be watching, Lance turns his attention to me. That wicked little smirk creeps onto his lips, the kind that sets something low in my stomach twisting, the kind that says he knows exactly what he’s about to do. He closes the space between us in seconds, dragging me into a very similar kiss he gave Sofie.
I remember the way it was with him before. The way it felt easy, natural, like we were meant to fall into each other’s space. His playful touch, the heat in his gaze, the nights spent tangled together with Sofie, all of it still there, waiting beneath the surface. It was only a matter of time before we fell back into that.
Gray groans dramatically behind me. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Quit hogging her and go back to Sofie so I can have my princess back.”
Lance grins against my skin, pressing one last kiss to my cheek before stepping away. “Jealous?”
Gray doesn’t hesitate. “Obviously.”
A laugh slips past my lips, easy, light, before I turn to Gray, arms crossing as I smirk. “Maybe I’d rather have Puma.” Puma, who has been watching all of this unfold with quiet amusement, doesn’t miss a beat. He simply raises a brow, unimpressed, before flipping another egg onto a plate with the same practiced ease he’s had this whole time.
Gray groans like he’s in actual pain, dragging a hand down his face. “See? This is what happens when you let them run wild. Betrayal.”
Laughter rings through the kitchen and it’s just soeasy. Ridiculous but easy. I wiggle my way out, making sure to squeeze Hawk’s hand on the way past before stepping up to Gray. His little pout makes me want to give in, his arms immediately coming around me. “You still up for tagging along to that client meeting?”
I smirk, reaching for a slice of avocado from the counter, popping it into my mouth before answering. “Gotta earn my keep somehow.”
The laughter that follows makes this feel like home.
Chapter thirty-two